The Player of Games

A seminal novel in Banks's acclaimed series about the universe of the Culture. Gurgeh is the best, the champion of the ancient, all-embracing Culture in which there is no disease or disaster, only the endless games. Then he accepts the challenge from the Empire of Azad--and finds out what the Game is really all about.

Iain Banks came to widespread and controversial public notice with the publication of his first novel, The Wasp Factory, in 1984. Consider Phlebas, his first science fiction novel, was published under the name Iain M. Banks in 1987 and began his celebrated ten-book Culture series. He is acclaimed as one of the most powerful, innovative and exciting writers of his generation.